Pneumatic tourniquet



Aug. 7, 192s.

, `1,679,978 A. L. KONWSER ET AL PNEUMATI C TOURNI QUET Filed May 14. 1926 Q v al a ATTORNEY lll Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAM LINCOLN KONWISER, OF NEVJARK, AND AVD LOESER, `QIE :EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY; SAID KONWISER SSEGN'UR TO "SllD LOESER.

Application led May 14,

y This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tourniquets, and more particu larly has reference to the provision of a pneumatic tourniquet Which will satisfy the requirements of physicians and others in making intravenous injections or infusions.

One of the objects of our invention is to produce a pneumatic tourniquet which may be utilized to make a good intravenous injecw tion, and to this end, to produce a tourniquet which may be easily adjusted on limbs ot' varyingr sizes, by the use of which tbe application of air pressure will be substantially painless and by the use of which this air pressure may instantaneously and immedi ately before the injection be released without shock or jar, thus avoiding any agitation of the needle or syringe and enabling the normal flow of blood through the blood vesselto. be started before the injection so as to carry along the medicine injected into the blood stream.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a mechanical releasingr `valve or device the movement of which will be unaffected by the release of air pressure in a tourniquet and maybe quickly and positively moved by hand from closed to open position with a uniform degree `of l movement irrespective ot' the release thereby of air pressure, thus avoiding any snap or jar and consequently any jerk or rebound which would belilrely to cause a displacement ot the needleor an unintentional movement of the operators body and, furthermore, avoiding;- the usual spring,r or snap releases which have the eilect not only oi jarring the tourniquet and dis concertina the operator butoften jarringr the needle out of the vein, in which event it is necessary to perform the operation over again including a replacement of the tourniquet and resulting in embarrassment and an# noyance to the operator `and increasing the nervousness and loss of confidence on the part oi the patient. j

Another object ofthe invention is to enable good intravenous infusions to be made by a single operator or surgeon without the necessity of an assistant.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of 192e. serial No. 108,992.

illustrated in the accompanying` drawings,

in which 1- Fig. l is a plan view ot the inner side of any tourniquet having' a portion broken away to show the inflatable bagg` Fig. Q is a fragmentary view, in plan, of the outer side oi the tourniquet;

3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 oi Fig. l, lookingl in the direction o't the arrow; l

Fig. l is a similar longitudinal section showing the ends ot the tourniquet 'fastened together and the bag inflated;

Figa 5 is a detail view of the air-release valve used by us; and

liigr. 6 is a view showing in plan a modilied `lform ol the air-pumping and air-release tubes used by us.

Referring now to these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment oi" our invention, l indicates a tourniquet comprising an elastic inflatable member 2 preferably comprising` a relatively thin 'flat and elon- `gated rubber bag enclosed in a casing or holder fi formed of a flexible leather binder l `havinp,- attaching means such as a buclle il and strap il" and a lining` 5, said `binder and lining'being connected attheir edges to :term an enclosingglcasing vfor the inflatable bag which `is positioned between the fabric lining' and the leather binding member.

As illustrated, the lining `member oit the casing' or holder 3 is provided with two apertures 5, 5b through which, asshown in 1,2 and `3, a pair of flexible tubes 6 and 7 pass. These tubes (i and 7 are prefer ably i'ormed ot rubber, extend through said apertures l5, 5b and are connected and com municate at one end with the inflatable bag 2. One o'l` these tubes is provided at its opposite free end with a suitable pumping device such as the bulb 8, and the other tube 7 has at its tree end 7 an air-rele`ase `valve .9 which is adapted to be quiclly and positively moved from closed to open position by hand with a uniform degree of movement irrespective of and unaffected by the movement of the released air or by other causes extraneous of' the hand pressure applied.

We are thus enabled to release air from the bag Without any snap or jar and to avoid sprmg or snap releases Whichhave the effect not only of jarring the tourniquet and disconcerting the operator but often jarring the needle out of the vein, in which event itis necessary to perform the operation over again including a replacement of the tournin to the other a valve9.v In other closed by a. cylindrical :ture from its closed position indicate Y full lines in Fig.

, the vsurgeons body,

quet and resulting in tembarrassment and annoyance to the operator and increasing the nervousness and loss ot confidence on the' part of the patient.`

In the preferred embodiment of our invention the releasing device 9 comprises a hollow stem 9a preferably having a nozzle ortion 9'J adapted to be inserted into the end ga of the tube 7 to form a tight joint there- With and an air release aperture 9c normally sliding valve member 9d which is movable on the hollow stem 9 transversely across the air-release aderin 5 with its upper ends abutting against the stop washer 9e connected to the nozzle 9b' to the open air-releasing position shown in dotted lines in'said Fig. 5 with the opposite end in contact with a limiting stop 9t on said stem v9. The sliding valve 9d is preferably provided with a finger grip projection 9g and it will be apparent that j the movement of this valve will be positive and unaffected by the movement of the released air.

In Fig. 6, a single tube 11 is connected to the inflatable bag within the casing 3 and this single tube has branches ll, l1h to one of which branches a bulb 8 is connected and 'respects the device is similar to .that hereinabove described. Y

It Will be understood that it is desirable to enable an intravenous infusion or injection to be made by the surgeon alone Without the necessityof an assistant; that the release of the'tourniquet or the air pressure therein is an important function in this operation; also that it is desirable to provide a Vrelease Which will avoid any sudden release of the air pressure, will prevent any rebound thereof which might displace the needle or to cause unintentional motion of and which will avoid any jarring ofthe needle out of the vein.

uch a jarring, of course, would necessitate replacement of the tourniquet and great annoyance and embarrassment besides ycausing ed with nervousness and loss of confidence on the patients part. By the use of our invention this sudden release, rebound and jarring is completely avoided and the surgeon may proceed with confidence te release the air pressure so as to permit the flow of blood to carry along the injection, and immediately thereafter to inject the liquid into the vein.

In operating our improved tourniquet, it is adjusted to conform to the size of the patients arm, and with the tubes in such position as not to obscure the cephalic veins, the tourniquet without any inflation is fastened to the arm of the patient without pressure and with the valve 9 in closed position. The syringe is then prepared for injection, the site of injection being sterilized in the usual way. The patient should hold the arm rigid and at the same time fold the lingers in the palm of the hand, making a fist. The tourniquet is now inflated by pressure on the bulb 8 until the vein to be injected becomes visible. The needle of the syringe being attached is then inserted in the vein. A few drops of blood will appear in the barrel if properly inserted. The valve 9 is then moved downwardly on the stem 9 to release the air pressure and the syringe is then immediately operated to inject the medicine into the vein or blood vessel, the blood pressure being thus released will carry the medicine along into the blood stream of the patient. If desired the patient may be instructed to hold the tourniquet valve in his other hand and to release the air pressure when ordered so to do by the surgeon. This procedure often has a very desirable psychological effect on the patient and lcssens the nervous tension usually7 occurring during such an injection.

Having described our claim 1. A pneumatic .tourniquet embodying an inflatable bag. air-pumping means connected with said bag, and air-release means also connected with said bag and comprising a stationary valve member and a movable valve member having a positive sliding movement relatively to said stationary member. one of said members being provided with an air release aperture arranged therein to be closed and opened upon said sliding movement in opposite directions of said movable member.

2. A pneumatic tourniquet embodying an inflatable bag, air-pumping means connectsaid bag, and air-release means also connected with said bag and comprising a hollow metallic valve element having an airrelease aperture and a valve member having a positive sliding movement to close and open said aperture.

3. A pneumatic tourniquet embodying an inflatable bag, air-pumping means connected with said bag, and air-release means also invention, we

llll

connected with said beg and comprising a aperture and to be retained positively in poeylindricel metallic valve stern closed at its sition irrespective of the escaping air.

end having en air-release aperture extending In witness whereof, we have signed our 10 through its cylindrical surface and a s1idnames to the foregoing specification.

able valve member also eylindricaL in conformation fitting over and slidebie upon saidV ABRAM LINCOLN KONWISER. vulve stem to positively open and close said DAVID LOESER. 

